ward off vs avert

ward off and avert both are verbs.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
ward off	No	No	Yes	No
avert	No	No	Yes	No

As verbs, ward off and avert are synonyms defined as:

ward off and avert: prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening; to protect from or to keep away anything undesirable; to ward off

Other synonyms of ward off include avoid, debar, deflect, fend off, forefend, forfend, head off, obviate, stave off.

ward off (verb)	avert (verb)
avert, turn away, or repel	turn away or aside
prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening; to protect from or to keep away anything undesirable; to ward off	prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening; to protect from or to keep away anything undesirable; to ward off